After completing his address at the St. Lucian parliament, President Ma hosted a banquet in the banquet hall at Sandals La Toc Hotel for St. Lucia Governor-General Dame Pearlette Louisy, Prime Minister Kenny Davis Anthony, and members of that nation's cabinet and congress.
President Ma expressed appreciation to Governor-General Louisy, Prime Minister Anthony, as well as the government and people of St. Lucia for their warm reception to the delegation from the ROC upon their arrival in St. Lucia.
The president noted that two years ago when Governor-General Louisy visited Taiwan she mentioned that the ROC and St. Lucia embrace the same principles in their emphasis on education and democracy. In addition, Prime Minister Anthony was the youngest Minister of Education that St. Lucia has ever had, and places great importance on education. This year 17 students from St. Lucia have been awarded scholarships from the ROC's Ministry of Education, including six students obtaining Taiwan Scholarships, six with TaiwanICDF International Higher Education Scholarships, and five with scholarships for a four-year post-bachelor M.D. program. President Ma pointed out that students from St. Lucia are the top two among those admitted to the program.
President Ma further stated that 14 students from St. Lucia have already completed their studies in Taiwan and returned home, where they've formed a local chapter of the Taiwan Scholarship Alumni Association to stay in touch with one another. In addition, the president pointed out, Benjamin Annius, a student from St. Lucia who studies in the Department of International Business at Ming Chuan University, married a woman from Taiwan, Chen Yi-fen (陳怡芬), in February of this year, creating a new son-in-law and daughter-in-law for each of the two nations. Lastly, the president raised his glass to good fortune for the two countries and a lasting alliance. President Ma also had the opportunity to interact with various officials attending the event.
In the afternoon, the president and his delegation visited the Taiwan Agricultural Technical Mission in St. Lucia to inspect its work with orchids and aquaculture, and to receive a briefing from members of the mission. Local fish and shrimp farmers also were on hand and expressed their gratitude to the mission for its assistance, which has enabled them to branch out into new products and increase their incomes.
In the evening, at a state banquet held in his honor, President Ma noted in remarks that St. Lucia is world renowned for the Gros Piton and Petit Piton mountain peaks, which have been selected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The president said that given the gorgeous scenery of St. Lucia, together with the kindness of the people, it is no wonder that each year the island attracts over one million tourists to its shores.
President Ma mentioned his afternoon visit to the ROC's Agricultural Technical Mission and said that the results of its work in aquaculture have been quite impressive. For instance, in 2008 St. Lucia's tilapia output came to a mere 71 kilograms, but by last year the figure had increased by a factor of 177 to 12.6 tons, he said, while the output of fresh water prawns had increased by a factor of 75 from 194 kilograms to 14.5 tons. The technology has already been transferred to private aquaculturists in St. Lucia, he noted, and is effectively increasing their income.
The president stated that after the ROC lost its representation in the United Nations (UN) in 1971 it could not continue to participate in UN activities, but in 2009 the ROC returned to the World Health Assembly, which is held by the World Health Organization (WHO) annually. Each year, Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare attends the event, which the president said creates a win-win situation for both the ROC and that organization.
President Ma explained that the ROC's healthcare standards are first rate, and noted that the nation has made considerable strides in cutting back on tobacco use, reducing obesity, and promoting healthy lifestyles. The president said the ROC has shared its experiences with the WHO, thus benefitting the global community. In mentioning efforts to reduce weight, President Ma told those attending the event that two years ago the ROC government began promoting a program to encourage the public to shed a total of 1,000 tons. The ultimate result actually exceeded the target, with the public losing 1,200 tons in total. The president quipped that, as president he needs to serve as a model, and therefore generously donated four kilograms in the initiative. He said that when he visited farms earlier in the day, he noticed that volunteers from the ROC are also promoting weight reduction throughout communities in St. Lucia, adding that some individuals in St. Lucia also require this type of assistance.
Lastly, the president invited all in attendance to raise their glasses to express their hope for lasting friendship and cooperation between the two countries.